Designer foreign policy
It’s hard to beat the Pakistani establishment’s innovative and creative instincts. Quite a few years ago, a prominent general of the Musharraf team had claimed about a certain female, who was being launched as the establishment’s new intellectual missile, that a few more like her would make the world change its perception about Pakistan. The media hype in India around Hina Rabbani Khar’s visit will probably make some people happy, especially those who decided to invest in the new foreign minister. It’s certainly a good choice since it helps in bringing the political government and the establishment together, especially in terms of ownership of the minister. While she owes her promotion to her political masters, Khar is quite adept at surviving through different regime types, a quality that will take her a long way. For the sceptics who compare her with Shah Mahmood Qureshi, they must remember that the young Khar’s presentability is comparable to that of the former foreign minister vis-à-vis his expensive Armani suits. Furthermore, like him, she will build her way into the party and the establishment.
Good presentation and outlook (which includes the capacity to conduct oneself well, speak in a foreign language and seem visibly intelligent) are the traits which the establishment keenly looks for in a foreign minister. He/she does not have to be imaginative or inspired by the idea of making any original contribution to foreign policy. We continue to operate in the prism of a foreign policy which was jointly manufactured by the military establishment and the political government of the 1970s. Over the years, foreign ministers are expected only to conduct the orchestra rather than write the symphony themselves.
As far as India is concerned, there is very little that a dashing foreign minister is expected to do. I remember a dinner at the Pakistani High Commission in London on the occasion of Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s first visit to the UK after being sworn in as foreign minister. During his keynote speech, he expressed great enthusiasm for solving all outstanding issues with India and taking the relationship forward. Interestingly, the army and naval attaches sitting in a far-off corner in that very room whispered to each other and other guests on their table and presented a totally different worldview. With time, Qureshi learnt to listen more intently to the establishment that he was always a part of rather than go the way the political government initially intended.
Hina Rabbani Khar is intelligent and knows how not to rock the boat. She stuck to the draft as far as her visit to India was concerned. In any case, she represents a political government which is currently caught in a bind and cannot make original contributions to foreign policy, certainly not in terms of relations with India. She will not try to get original either as her main constituent — the establishment — would want her to stick to cosmetics.
It is a good sign that the two neighbours are talking to each other and are being civil. Otherwise, things are pretty much at a standstill. The Indian military won’t budge from Siachen without a joint agreement to map the existing positions first. On Sir Creek, the Pakistan Navy has gone back yet again to solving the issue on the basis of an old 1914 map rather than through other innovative ways. There is no movement on trade either.
Surely this is just the beginning of yet another chapter in India-Pakistan peace talks. Hina Khar was of the view that the flow of peace initiatives will not be reversed this time. Being foreign minister, she probably has greater insight. But the fact is that it’s not her words but the mood of the establishment that will be the evidence of whether the time has come for the two states to seriously talk peace. Meanwhile, we should suffice with Hermes and Prada.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 31st, 2011.
COMMENTS (17)
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Very good analysis. The real force is establishment in Pakistan and also to a certain extent India. India has political as well.
Ms. Ayesha wrote, "Good presentation and outlook are the traits which the establishment keenly looks for in a foreign minister.He/she does not have to be imaginative or inspired by the idea of making any original contribution to foreign policy."
Are you trying to insinuate that you dont fit this beauty criteria even though you are more qualified, than Ms.Khar, to make contribution to foreign policy. If so then this is just jeolousy, nothing else.
Frankly, what do you think about looks of the following gentlemen who held this office before, Zain Norani, S.Yaqoob Khan, Gohar Ayub, Sartaj Aziz, Asif Ahmad Ali, Abdul Sattar, and Mr. Qasoori, etc.?
The best part of the article says all about in a single sentence: " Over the years, foreign ministers are expected only to conduct the orchestra rather than write the symphony themselves".
Well done Ayesha and thanks.
we didn't expect someone with your calibre to comment on the branded bag and shades of Hina...so sad to see the real intellect of Pakistan jumping the bandwagon.
When you are a public servant, nothing is private and everything is open to comment and critique.
If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
give her a chance. she put up a good interpretation of our official position.her opponents have nothing to say on substantive issues hence the endless talk of her bag and glasses.
On the other hand, Indian foreign minister is 76 years old! Old enough to be her grandfather! Post of Foreign Minister is no joke!
Her looks and personality will be an advantage to Pakistan, but I don't think her prada and expensive glasses will bring some kind of leniency in India's age old stance. The writer rightly put that her prada and other expensive accessories are enough to suffice.
FARAZ:
The relation between India and Pakistan is bitter due to Pakistan's strategic assets which attack India and the fragile peace process again disrupt, The relations are always bitter due to mistrust.
If anything, Khar helped to create a better image of Pakistan which should not be underestimated, as the country needs that badly. In a country where the Mullahs and military have the last shots, Khar is a pleasant distraction. I just read in Tribune that a father killed his daughters because he was told that they had 'relationship' with boys in the college. It is a strange society where men can get away with murder and women are supposed to suppress their desires to have any connection with boys. She has to understand that it is alright for her brother go out with his friends but not for her and she has to understand that even though her parents can afford to educate her brother in an expensive private educational institution, they cannot do so for her. Her parents decide what she wears, what she eats, who she talks to and even what she likes.Only then is the father happy and says to all: This is MY daughter Khar did a good job of improving the image somewaht. If anything with India will be achieved is another story. It would be a slow movement, if any movement is possible. Pakistan's aim should be to make greater efforts to make friends with India.
Those who are focusing on the coverage by the Indian media are missing the point completely. Had the Indian media focused on things other than sartorial elegance of the visitor, then they would have had to talk about the visitor giving priority to a meeting with Kashmiri separatists even before meeting her hosts.And then there would also have been talk of who pulls the Foreign Policy strings in Pakistan, and how 26/11 trials are a non-starter.In short the atmospherics would have gone haywire.
As they say, Baat Nikalegi tau Duur Talak Jayegi...', so prevent the issues from being aired in public.Get something substantial done behind closed doors while the TV Channels swoon over Chanel and Birkin.
If I had written this article, it might have been taken differently by calling me all type of names from "male macho" to "chauvinist pig." Having said this, I would request the respected columnists to look at the brighter side of the picture. She must have some potential that she was picked up to represent the country in foreign affairs and that also at very difficult times. I would also request everyone to refrain from commenting on foreign minister's dress, hand-bag/s, or other personal items. To be honest, it is no one’s business to make judgments about the appearance of another person. She likes what she likes and can afford it. So relax and let her do her personal things her way.
Ayesha:
This dimension is an important dimension in the craft of diplomacy. Your essay is needed on it. Hillary Clinton regards Huma Abedin as her daughter. I was looking at Hina Khar's photo with Man Mohan Singh and L. K. Advani, and could not stop thinking how often they must have used "beti/Putr", and what must Hina have called MMS in Punjabi. Aging Indian leaders and Hillary Clinton will find it hard to ignore power of this dimension.
Very perceptive. This article was needed after a lot of off-the-cuff, light weight stuff making the rounds.
Our strategic assets have thousands of Ajmal Kasabs to disrupt any serious development in Pak India relations. These militant groups having tens of thousands of members won’t lay down their arms, and start working as daily wagers.